Page:Max Brand--The Seventh Man.djvu/208

194 had turned the child to this; and a few days more of life with him would leave her wild forever.

“He left you alone here!” she repeated fiercely. “Where a thousand things might happen. Thank God I've found you.”

Even if her words conveyed little meaning to Joan, the intonation carried a message which was perfectly clear.

“Don't you like Daddy Dan?”

“Joan, Joan, I love him! Of course.”

But Joan sat with a dubious eye which quickly darkened into fear.

“Oh, Munner, don't take us back!”

Such horror and terror and sadness mixed! The tears rushed into the eyes of Kate.

“Do you want to stay here, sweetheart?”

“Yes, munner.”

“Without me?”

At first Joan shook her head decidedly, but thereafter she quickly became thoughtful.

“No, except when we eat.”

“You don't want me here at dinner-time? Poor munner will get so hungry.”

A great concession was about to burst from the remorseful lips of Joan, but again second thought sobered her. She remained in a quandary, unable to speak.

“Don't you want me even when you wake up at night?”

“Why?”